Canary - Thomas Shelby

chapter 1

xx

Birmingham 1919

Elena:

Elena Sabini knew the wrath of dangerous men. The daughter of notorious gangster Darby Sabini she had not had a childhood of rainbows and sunshine. She had a childhood of guns, drugs, and violence.

Things had been better during the war. With her father gone, she was able to get some peace and quiet for the first time in her life. Of course, fate had a twisted sense of humor and her father had been one of the "lucky" ones who survived. He came back more angry, more violent, and more dangerous.

So she left. Staged her own death and ran away to Birmingham, a city small and grimy enough that she wasn't likely going to run into her father. While Elena was a Sabini, her face was not well known to the general public. Elena has spent her life in the shadows and she was grateful because it had allowed her to roam free whenever she was allowed out of the house. Darby had little love for his only daughter but he did keep the girl's identity a secret from those outside of the immediate circle in order to protect her safety and his sanity. Sabini was a possessive man and while he cared little for Elena, she was still his property and he wasn't going to let her be taken.

Only death could free the girl from the hell she had lived for 24 years of her life. She had paid a high cost to be free.

Elena breathed a deep breath before stepping into the Garrison, a pub she knew had close affiliations with the Peaky Blinders. She didn't want any trouble and she knew that the Peaky Blinders and little to no affiliation with the Sabini family. Near every business at this point was affiliated with a gang, you just had to pick the ones that were the least dangerous. The Peaky Blinders were gaining momentum in Birmingham but their circle of influence remained relatively small compared to the gangs in London.

"Excuse me sir" Elena interrupted the man sweeping the floors. It was one in the afternoon so the bar was near empty. "I am here about the job of a barmaid, I saw it in this morning's paper"

"The job has been filled" the man gruffed back not even giving her a second glance.

"Please sir, I have references. I won't be any trouble" Elena needed a job fast. It had been too dangerous to take anything from her childhood home when she fled but this left her penniless for the first time in her life. She didn't have any references but she doubted he would ask for more details anyways.

"I'm doing you a favor love. A face like yours doesn't belong in a place like this" The man said as he continued to sweep.

"I think I should decide where my face belongs, don't you think sir?". Elena snapped back getting sick of the antics of men who thought they knew best.

"I take it you aren't going to take no for an answer" the man paused finally giving the girl a real look.

"No sir"

"I like you; you can have the job but don't say I didn't warn you. The name's Harry," he said reaching out his hand.

"Elena" she grabbed his hand giving it a hard shake back. "I can start now. Figured you can use the help with it being a Friday night and everything"

"Works for me, love. You can start by finishing the sweeping and then getting to the dishes. A few ground rules before you start 1) Nobody drinks for free 2) No fighting 3) Anyone in the peaky blinders is exempt from the first two rules. If you aren't sure come and ask me. The peaky blinders are dangerous men and we don't want to get in the middle of their happenings. There is nothing I can do to protect you from them"

"I'm not here for any trouble, Harry". Elena said taking the broom from Harry. She appreciated the man looking out for young women like herself. But if she could survive being a Sabini for 24 years she could survive being a barmaid.

Little did Elena know that trouble was brewing. The girl would change the trajectory of Birmingham whether she wanted to or not. Elena may have escaped Sabini but she had far escaped the wrath of angry men.

Tommy:

Thomas Shelby was tired. There were a million things that were going on and he was just trying to keep the whole damn thing together. Arthur was struggling, John was lonely, Polly was unhappy about not being in charge and Ada was off doing god knows what. Since returning from France, Tommy had thrown his whole soul into the Peaky Blinders. He couldn't escape his demons from France but he was trying to outrun them by growing the family business. He promised himself that if he survived he was going to set up his family for success. Tommy had lost his soul in France but that put him in the perfect position to run the Peaky Blinders.

Arthur had just been released from police custody. He was pretty bloodied up and in need of a drink which is why Tommy was on his way to the Garrison. A new copper was in town of the name of Inspector Campbell. What Tommy had learned about him in the past hours is that he was a man who believed he was unbreakable and his word was the word of god. Tommy knew what Inspector Campbell was really here about; knew it was a dangerous game playing with an inspector sent by Winston Churchhill himself.

Arriving at the Garrison, Tommy tapped on the window outside expecting to see Harry when instead a young woman opened the door. She was attractive in the traditional sense. But it was her eyes that caught Tommy's attention. Her deep brown eyes looked mischievous promising trouble. She was not your average barmaid.

"Bottle of rum" Tommy gruffed.

"A bit early for a whole bottle don't you think?" The girl smirked back at him. She had nerve, he would give her that. That would get her killed. Tommy felt something deep in his mind stir at the thought of the girl in front of him dead but he quickly let her go.

"Elena" Harry interrupted anxiously "Anything he wants is on the house". So her name was Elena.

"White or Dark?" Elena asked turning back to Thomas.

"I don't care" Tommy responded. He knew he was being rude to the girl. He was doing it on purpose, if she had any chance of surviving in Birmingham it was staying as far away from men like himself.

"Dark it is" the girl mumbled turning back to grab it. Tommy swore he heard her mutter "like your soul" but surely he must have imagined it because no one was that stupid to be that forward with him.

"On the house," she said, sliding the bottle over to him. Tommy grabbed the bottle turning to leave but turned back to ask a question he knew would put the nail in the coffin of her avoiding him in the future. "Are you a whore?" Tommy asked watching as the girl's eyes widened and her face flushed. "Because if you're not, you're in the wrong place"

As the girl continued to stare he turned to leave knowing that he should return to Arthur before his brother had a complete fit.

"Are you?" Tommy stopped in his tracks at Elena's questions.

"Am I what?" Tommy asked

"A whore" the girl smiled with her hands on her hips. She looked ravishing but damn was she stupid. Tommy took a step forward to give her a piece of his mind when she was pulled back to reveal a stressed Harry. "I am so sorry Mr. Shelby. She doesn't know who you are and she just started today. She didn't mean it I promise" Harry turned quickly to grab a white bottle of rum. "Here have another one on the house"

Tommy considered for a moment if he should make a scene and scare her enough to teach her a lesson. But he really did need to get back to Arthur so he grabbed the bottle and left without saying a word.

Elena remained in his mind for the remainder of the short walk home. She was undeniably beautiful but she was making his blood boil. He didn't know if he found it funny or infuriating her response to his question. However, he felt that it was not likely going to be the last time he saw Elena.